Upcoming Changes To Island Sanctuaries In Patch 6.4

One of the more intriguing features introduced in Final Fantasy XIV's Endwalker is island sanctuaries. A reward for finishing the first story arc of Final Fantasy XIV, level 90 players get not just a plot, but a whole island to call their own. But the feature is very much a work in progress. In last Friday's Producer's Live Letter, Yoshi-P gave a preview of what awaits players in Patch 6.4: The Dark Throne.

First, the next patch will increase the rank cap for island sanctuaries. My guess is the cap will increase from rank 12 to rank 15. Any higher increase would require a ridiculous amount of time to complete, so I don't expect a 5 rank increase until patch 6.5.

Yoshi-P presenting the changes

Next comes new gathering areas. Since the devs added new vegetation-type nodes in 6.3, I expect we next travel under the ground to find new mining nodes. The mountain in the middle of the island is a good candidate for such a zone. Also, the new animal on the island indicates an underground setting.

Spriggans!

The addition of new construction plots in the hideaway is interesting. Will our built up area near the beach become larger, or will we create a second area near the new zone? My hope is for more workshops, but I'd like to add the new vision preview to my island.

A new observation platform?

Of course, the biggest news is the addition of outdoor furnishings to island sanctuaries. At the very least, high level players unable to get a plot of land have a use for all those outdoor furnishings that now are cluttering up their inventories

Details for furnishings

That's right, island sanctuaries can have more than double the amount of outdoor furnishings than mansions. Then again, the outdoors section of a mansion shares an instance with 29 other plots of land. Personally, I have a cottage and there is so much I want to do but 20 slots is just not enough. I'll be glad to play around on my island with some of the really interesting items available.

Of course, those who are still grumpy players need to finish the Endwalker MSQ to obtain an island will note no training dummies or garden plots allowed. In the apocalyptic world of FFXIV, one can't have everything. Those trying to get a plot of land for a house can tell you that.

And finally we get a various selection of new materials to gather, items to both handcraft and churn out in our workshops, and crops and animals to tend. Overall, something to look forward to. Not a main feature, but then again island sanctuaries are something intended to fill up some time when players want a break from the exciting content. I'm looking forward to the next producer's live letter so I can stop speculating and start planning.